How to Fix a Lawn Damaged by Georgia Summer Heat

By the end of summer, many lawns around Newnan, Georgia are showing the effects of months of heat, humidity, foot traffic, and inconsistent rainfall.

A lawn that looked thick and green in spring may suddenly have thin patches, brown areas, compacted soil, or spots that simply do not seem to be growing like the rest of the yard.

The good news is that late summer and early fall are excellent times to evaluate what happened and start preparing your lawn for the next season.

At Jones & Co. Lawn and Landscape Professionals, we help homeowners throughout Newnan and Coweta County maintain their lawns through Georgia's changing seasons.

Why Does Grass Struggle During a Georgia Summer?

Georgia lawns deal with some challenging conditions.

During the hottest part of summer, turf may experience:

• High daytime temperatures

• Extended periods without rainfall

• Heavy afternoon thunderstorms

• Increased foot traffic

• Soil compaction

• Lawn diseases

• Insect activity

• Stress from improper mowing or watering

Different grass types respond differently to these conditions.

Warm-season grasses such as Bermuda and Zoysia generally perform well during summer, while cool-season grasses such as tall fescue can struggle significantly during prolonged heat. That is why identifying your grass type is one of the first steps in determining how to improve a struggling lawn.

Is Brown Grass Dead?

Not always.

Some warm-season grasses can temporarily lose color or become stressed during periods of limited rainfall and high temperatures. Brown areas can also have several other causes, including disease, insects, compacted soil, poor irrigation coverage, or damaged roots.

Before replacing grass or applying products, it is important to determine what is actually causing the problem. A professional lawn evaluation can help distinguish temporary seasonal stress from areas that require additional attention.

Check Your Watering Habits

One of the first things to review is irrigation.

Watering too little can leave grass stressed, but watering too frequently can create its own problems. Frequent shallow watering may encourage shallow root development. Excessive moisture can also contribute to certain lawn diseases. In many cases, deeper and less frequent irrigation encourages turf roots to grow farther into the soil.

Rainfall should also be considered before running irrigation systems. A lawn that recently received significant rainfall may not need additional watering.

Look for Soil Compaction

Summer activity can leave the soil underneath a lawn hard and compacted.

Children playing in the yard, pets, lawn equipment, vehicles, construction work, and everyday foot traffic can all contribute. Compacted soil makes it more difficult for air, water, and nutrients to move into the root zone. Core aeration may help improve these conditions by removing small plugs of soil throughout the lawn. For certain lawns, fall aeration can be especially helpful as part of a seasonal lawn improvement plan.

Fescue Lawns May Need Overseeding

Tall fescue often takes a beating during Georgia summers.

Unlike Bermuda or Zoysia, fescue does not spread aggressively into thin areas. Once sections of a fescue lawn become sparse, overseeding may be needed to restore turf density. September and October are generally ideal months for establishing tall fescue in Georgia. That makes late August the perfect time to evaluate your lawn, identify thin areas, and begin planning for fall aeration and overseeding.

Do Not Assume Every Bare Spot Needs Seed

Overseeding is not the solution for every lawn.

Warm-season turf such as Bermuda and Zoysia behaves differently from tall fescue and should be managed according to its own seasonal growth cycle.

Bare areas may also be caused by:

• Excessive shade

• Poor drainage

• Compacted soil

• Pet damage

• Disease

• Insects

• Irrigation problems

Fixing the underlying issue is usually more effective than simply adding seed or sod without understanding why the grass struggled in the first place.

Clean Up Landscape Beds While You Are At It

Late summer is also a good time to evaluate the rest of the property.

By August and September, landscape beds may have faded pine straw, weeds, overgrown shrubs, and debris left behind from summer growth. Refreshing your landscaping can dramatically improve curb appeal even before major lawn improvements are completed.

Consider:

• Fresh mulch

• New pine straw

• Landscape bed cleanup

• Edging

• Shrub maintenance

• Removal of dead plant material

• General property cleanup

A clean landscape helps the entire yard look more intentional and maintained.

Start Preparing for Fall Now

Waiting until late fall to address summer lawn damage can mean missing some of the best seasonal opportunities. Late August and early September are ideal times to evaluate what your property needs and create a plan for the months ahead.

Jones & Co. Lawn and Landscape Professionals provides professional lawn care, lawn maintenance, landscaping, aeration and overseeding, mulch and pine straw installation, and seasonal property maintenance in Newnan, GA and throughout Coweta County.

If your lawn looks worn after another Georgia summer, contact Jones & Co. to request an estimate and get your property ready for fall.